Designation:D5210−92(Reapproved2007)StandardTestMethodforDeterminingtheAnaerobicBiodegradationofPlasticMaterialsinthePresenceofMunicipalSewageSludge1ThisstandardisissuedunderthefixeddesignationD5210;thenumberimmediatelyfollowingthedesignationindicatestheyearoforiginaladoptionor,inthecaseofrevision,theyearoflastrevision.Anumberinparenthesesindicatestheyearoflastreapproval.Asuperscriptepsilon(´)indicatesaneditorialchangesincethelastrevisionorreapproval.1.Scope1.1Thistestmethoddeterminesthedegreeandrateofanaerobicbiodegradationofsyntheticplasticmaterials(includ-ingformulationadditives)onexposuretoanaerobic-digestermunicipalsewagesludgefromawaste-waterplant,underlaboratoryconditions.1.2Thistestmethodisdesignedtoindexplasticmaterialsthataremoreorlessbiodegradablerelativetoapositivestandardinananaerobicenvironment.1.3Thistestmethodisapplicabletoallplasticmaterialsthatarenotinhibitorytothemicroorganismspresentinanaerobicsewagesludge.1.4ThevaluesstatedinSIunitsaretoberegardedasthestandard.1.5Thisstandarddoesnotpurporttoaddressallofthesafetyproblems,ifany,associatedwithitsuse.Itistheresponsibilityoftheuserofthisstandardtoestablishappro-priatesafetyandhealthpracticesanddeterminetheapplica-bilityofregulatorylimitationspriortouse.SpecifichazardsaregiveninSection8.2.ReferencedDocuments2.1ASTMStandards:2D883TerminologyRelatingtoPlasticsD1193SpecificationforReagentWaterD3593TestMethodforMolecularWeightAverages/Distri-butionofCertainPolymersbyLiquidSize-ExclusionChromatography(GelPermeationChromatographyGPC)UsingUniversalCalibration(Withdrawn1993)33.Terminology3.1Definitions:3.1.1DefinitionsoftermsapplyingtothistestmethodappearinTerminologyD883.4.SummaryofTestMethod4.1Thistestmethodconsistsofselectingplasticmaterialfortesting,obtainingsludgefromananaerobic-digesteratawaste-treatmentplant,exposingtheplasticmaterialtotheinoculumobtainedfromthesewagesludge,measuringtotalgas,carbondioxideandmethane(CO2andCH4),evolvedasafunctionoftime;solubleorganiccarbon(SOC),andresidualpolymerwei...
